In these Vs that we just read we see a contrast between the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the spirit. Notice that in (V19) “Works” is plural, while in (V 22) “Fruit” is singular. There are many works of the flesh, but there is only 1 fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit is love. The other 8 that are mentioned are byproducts of love. In other words when the true God kind of love is in operation, the other 8 will be in manifestation.

I.        Look at Matthew 22:37-40

A.  According to Jesus, what are the greatest commandment of all?

1.   Love God and Love oneanother.

a.     The reason that Jesus summarized all the law into 2 commandments was that love fulfills the whole law.

2.   Turn to ROM 5:5

a.     This is the only reference of a quality that the HS has shed into our hearts.

b.    The other 8 qualities are manifestations of the fruit of love.

B.  Look at 1COR 13:4-8a

1.   If you study out these 4 Vs you’ll find all of the fruit of the spirit.

a.     If you’re walking in the God kind of Love, the kind of love that God has shed abroad into your heart, then you can walk in the rest of the fruit of the spirit.

2.   If you have received Jesus as your Lord and savior, you have the ability to display all of these attributes of our heavenly Father.

a.  The Bible says that God is Love in (1 JOHN 4:8 and 1 JOHN 4:16)

b.    The Bible never says that God is Joy, or that God is Peace, or God is Longsuffering.

(1)  Even though He has those attributes.

(2)  Out of all of the 9 fruits of the spirit the Bible only says that He is love.

C.  These are fruits or manifestations of the human spirit because we have the H.S. dwelling in our heart.

1.   These are fruits that we all should be manifesting in our daily lives, but we may not be.

a.     We may only be walking in 1 or 2 maybe 3, but were not always walking in all 9 fruit of the spirit.

2.   PHIL 2:12.

a.     All of us have the fruits of the H.S. in us, but there is a part of “Working out our own salvation.” Bringing the fruit (or attributes) to the surface.

II.      The 1st characteristic of Love will be a love towards God.

A.  1 John 4:19 Says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” KJV

1.   Again (Matthew 22:37) Says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

B.  If we have that love toward our heavenly Father we will also worship Him. You worship God because you love Him, not just because you feel you have to, but because we want to. We want to be in His presence.

1.   But listen to what JOHN said in (1JO 5:3) Says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

a.     Jesus said in (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

b.    Part of keeping God’s commandments is praying, reading His Word, going to church, walking the Christian life, it’s doing the word and work of the ministry.

(1)       The Bible says in (REV 14:13) that our works will follow us into heaven.

(2)  But why do we do the works, because we love Him and we want to.

C.  Those that have this Divine kind of love will spend time in God’s presence, they will wait on the Lord and to receive from Him.

1.   ISA. 40:31 The love that we have for God is so very important.

a.  It’s this love of God that enables us to trust on the Lord for even our most important needs.

b.    As we trust on the Lord we will receive His strength and power.

D.  So often in the Word we see either Paul, or James, or Peter call themselves “a servant of Jesus Christ.”

1.   Because of their love for the Lord Jesus Christ, they chose to work for Him.

a.     Jesus said in (John 14:12) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

b.        MATT 28:18-20  (teach or make disciples)

III.     If we truly have the God kind of Love we’ll have a “Love for one another.”

A.  1st of all a love for our friends

1.   Jesus said in (JOHN 15:17) “These things I command you, that ye love one another.” KJV

a.     And John said in (1JOHN 4:7-8) “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

B.  Not only are we to love one another (those we know), but we are also to “Love Others” (those that we don’t know.)

1.   In (MAT 22:39) Jesus said, “And the second (commandment) {is} like unto it (the 1st), Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

C.  With the God kind of love we are to “Love the Unlovely.”

1.   MATT. 5:44 (Love our enemies.)

a.     Because we have the love of God inside us, we are to love “Those who Oppose us,” “Those who Hate us,” “Those who Don’t Seem Very Lovely,” “Even our Enemies.”

b.    At times that might seem difficult, but we can do it with God’s love.

(1)       The natural man cannot do this, only those that have the God kind of love, but we have the God kind of love.

2.   The God kind of love comes from the Greek word “Agape” meaning “Divine Love.”

a.     The world type of love says, “I love you if you love me.” But this God kind of love this “Agape” type of love simply says “I love you.” With no conditions with it.

b.    That’s why we can love the unlovely.

IV.    The God kind of love will also be displayed in Domestic Love. It’s a shame that we have to mention that, it should be so obvious, but it’s not always kept.

A.  EPH 5:25-33

1.   In (TIT 2:4) Paul says, “That the older women should teach the younger to love their husbands.”

B.  Sometimes you have men that say “Honey, I love you but I just don’t show it.”

1.   Men, the God kind of love shows.

2.   Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church.

a.     Women are to love their husbands in the same manner. This is a love that gives a 100% of the time. That kind of love will grow.

C.  Jesus gave His live for the Church. Men should give their lives for their wives, But the wives should be in submission to the husbands.

1.   Can you see God’s perfect order? If the husbands are giving their lives to there own wife, it easy for the wife to submit to their husbands.

a.     But what happens too often is that 1 gets off balance.

(1)   The husband doesn’t give his live for the wife, BUT HE MAKES HER SUBMIT.

(a)   Let me say this the HUSBAND should NEVER MAKE his WIFE SUBMIT. That’s the wife’s job. Men, you never force any woman to do any thing.

(b)      They have to do it willingly.

b.    But on the other hand, there are women that refuse to submit to their husbands, even when their husbands are taking their place as a Christian husband.

(1)   God has a perfect balance, but if we change something, it’s gets out of balance.

D.  The God kind of love shelters and protects.

1.   1TIM. 5:8

a.     If a man doesn’t provide for his family he’s worse than an unbeliever.

b.    The husband should not only provide materially, but spiritually as well.

2.   PRO. 12:4; PRO. 31:10‑31

a.     The wife might take care of the home or she might help in work, but either way, she is called to be a help mate. (GEN 2:18, 20)

V.     This is the God kind of love that all of us have and this is the love we are to have for our spouse and for our children and for the people of the world, not a love for the world.

A.  Jesus said in (1JO 2:15) “Love not the world, neither the things {that are} in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

1.   But we are to walk in love to the people in the world.

B.  I don’t care how hopeless a situation looks, remember love never fails. 

TFC 8/12/89 WOLCC 6/18/94 SUM AM& WOLCC Sunday, April 2, 2000 & Thursday 5/26/05.

Fruit of the spirit #1 Love